Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) will resign Monday at 5pm, a source close to the embattled incumbent tells Hotline OnCall.

Massa has been pressured by House Dems to step aside amid an ethics controversy that caused him to announce earlier this week he would not run for a second term.

Earlier this week, the House ethics committee confirmed it was looking in to allegations against Massa. Those allegations reportedly include sexual harassment of a member of the Congressman's staff.

Massa's decision to retire came as a surprise to both parties. While he said his decision was based on a recurrence of cancer, the ethics committee investigation made Dems push him out the door.

In a statement posted on his website, Massa maintained his medical issues were his reason for stepping down, but for the first time he acknowledged the ethics committee investigation.

(...)

Massa's resignation doesn't necessarily mean there will be a special, as state law doesn't require that Gov. David Paterson (D) call one. If he does choose to declare a special, he'll have to issue a proclamation setting the date of the election. The election will then be held between 30-40 days from the date of that proclamation.

If there is a special election, it would be the fifth such contest between now and Nov. There will be a 4/13 contest to replace Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), where Dems are strongly favored, and two May contested specials in HI and PA. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) plans to resign at the end of Mar., and a date has not yet been picked for an election to fill that heavily GOP seat.

Wait, wait, wait, are we to believe another DIM is stepping down from Nancy PeeLOUSY's "most ethical Congress in history?"

Maybe a better headline would be; A REAL Teabagger is resigning from the" most ethical Congress in history amid allegations of sexual harrassment of a Homosexual nature.

Swampfox

03-05-2010, 08:15 PM

Massa was a "no vote" on Health Care reform. Unfortunately, this makes it slightly easier for Pelosi to get the votes, but still an uphill battle.

Constitutionally Speaking

03-05-2010, 08:57 PM

Gee, I don't seem to be seeing this on the news 24/7 ala Mark Foley.

Wonder why??? :mad: DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

PoliCon

03-06-2010, 12:21 AM

Massa was a "no vote" on Health Care reform. Unfortunately, this makes it slightly easier for Pelosi to get the votes, but still an uphill battle.

I was afraid of that. They'll of course make that their litmus test for who they pic to replace him - and why they pressured him to resign.

Swampfox

03-06-2010, 02:36 AM

I was afraid of that. They'll of course make that their litmus test for who they pic to replace him - and why they pressured him to resign.

I'm not sure if they can replace him, if the seat will have to be vacant until November or if there will have to be a special election. Of course, the "rules" have never stopped the Democrats before, so why should it now?